The Top 5 Wineries to Visit While on Small Group Tours of Italy

It would be hard to visit Italy without spending some time sampling one of the country’s greatest creations: wine. Small group tours of Italy’s Tuscan region are especially appealing to wine lovers. This area is well known for creating some of the finest wines enjoyed today and the process of winemaking is taken very seriously. Local vineyards and wineries produce these wonderful vintages with almost surgical precision and yet the greatest ingredient is, without a doubt, passion.

Brunello di Montalcino The love and dedication for this trade is quite apparent in the wineries of Montalcino. This small town and commune is where the famous Brunello di Montalcino, Rosso di Montalcino and other Tuscan DOC wines are crafted. Here is a list of the top 5 wineries in this region that we believe all small group tours of Italy’s finest export ought to visit. For our guests, we believe that the perfect visit to a winery is about more than just the wine. We love the fabulous views, stunning scenery and welcoming hosts that can be found at each of these establishments. 1. Biondi Santi winery is one of the oldest family names in the business and currently houses some of the oldest bottles of Brunello. Some dating back to 1888 are still maturing in these wine cellars.

1. Il Palazzone is not only a beautiful location but also a wonderful source of information. Our small group tours of Italy’s Montalcino wineries always leave truly understanding the Brunello wine. The husband and wife team, Laura and Marco, who run the winery, are extremely knowledgeable and passionate about their trade!
2. Casa Raia is set atop one of the sloping hills just below the town of Montalcino. This beautiful winery is surrounded by the geometric patterns of row after row of grape vines that cascade all the way down to the valleys below. Casa Raia could easily be the epitome of Tuscany for many. The stunning views from the beautiful estate, along with the production of an excellent organic Brunello, makes this one of our favourite wineries to visit.
3. Pian Dell’Orino offers visitors a view into biodynamic methods of wine making and agriculture. Pian Dell’Orino is noted as one of the top estates in the region. They passionately promote their methods of creating the highest quality of wine with the most environmentally friendly methods possible.
4. Sesti – Castello Di Argiano is possibly our favourite winery in Montalcino. Guests who join our small group tours of Italy’s wine country are rarely disappointed by Castello di Argiano’s stunningly beautiful location. This medieval hamlet, and its vineyard, still produces one of the best vintages in the area. The fine wine coupled with the idyllic scenery truly satisfies most Italian wine-lover’s dreams. Italy and Wine at its Best It is impossible to classify any one winery as ‘the best’. Our small group tours of Italy’s Montalcino wine region strive to offer a varied sampling of the regions finest wines as well as their beautiful settings. Each one of these locations, as well as many others, proudly satisfy what most true travellers seek; a perfectly authentic and genuine experience like no other.

Antonio Nobile is Tour Operator & Researcher at Caspin Journeys, a specialist provider of small group tours of Italy, England and Spain. Following in the footsteps of the company founders Pino and Caroline, he has exceptional insider knowledge and a personal devotion to all the tours he organises.